9 convicted in Long Beach hate crime beatings (Halloween incident; not PC)

daily breeze ^ | 1-26-07 | Manzer

[doug from upland]

9 convicted in Long Beach hate crime beatings New, 3 p.m. Witnesses to Halloween mob melee said several of those in crowd that attacked three white women yelled racial slurs. A 12-year-old girl is cleared. By Tracy Manzer Staff Writer

A juvenile court judge today convicted nine of 10 local black youths accused in the hate crime beating of three young white women during a mob melee on Halloween.

Long Beach Superior Court Judge Gibson Lee also handed down "true findings," the equivalent of guilty verdicts in juvenile proceedings, on hate crime charges against eight of the youths. The one minor who was cleared of the charges was a 12-year-old girl.

Lee announced the verdicts this afternoon, finding the petition, or charge, against nine of the 10 accused minors was true.

Some of the defendants hugged before the verdicts were read and some cried after hearing the decisions.

All 10 minors, nine girls and one boy ages 12 to 18, were charged with felony assault for the beating, which took place around 9 p.m. in the 3800 block of Linden Avenue, an affluent section of Bixby Knolls popular with trick-or-treaters for its lavish displays.

A hate crime enhancement was added to eight minors' charges, stemming from victim and witness statements that several youths within a crowd of 20 to 40 people yelled racial slurs as the victims were pelted with newspapers, fruit and pumpkins, then beat to the ground with fists, feet, a skateboard and tree branches.

A second enhancement -- that the accused personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victims -- was filed against nine of the defendants, said Jane Robeson, a spokeswoman for the county District Attorney's Office. Five of those nine -- youths age 13 to 18 -- were found guilty of that charge.

Those enhancements can significantly increase the sentences, Robeson said. Sentencing guidelines for crimes in Juvenile Court are the same as in adult court, but the authority of the California Youth Authority ends once the minors turn 25.

Sentencing is expected to occur within the next few weeks, following the recommendations of the county Probation Department. Victims and families of the accused will also be given an opportunity to address the court before Lee issues the sentences.

[doug from upland]

Local media did not want to cover this black on white violence. No, Jesse Jackson has not come to Long Beach because the victims were white. The LOS ANGELES TIMES did not even report it for a month.

[randog]

No, Jesse Jackson has not come to Long Beach because the victims were white.

OK, but now that convictions have been handed down, the "victims" are black...?

[Two Kids' Dad]

And local radio has stated that a witness's name and home address were read aloud in court and was visited and threatened shortly thereafter. Perhaps the judge and/or defense lawyer should also be charged with hate crimes for doing/allowing what they knew could result in violence against the witness.

[machogirl]

will usc revoke the scholarship now?

[Crawdad]

I think the Duke lacrosse cases may have had something to do with the media coverage of this. It's almost like the media may not be afraid to cover this type of story anymore.

[taxesareforever]

No, Jesse Jackson has not come to Long Beach because the victims were white.

How about Al Sharpton? I know the answer. I just had to add a bit of sarcasm.

[bboop]

This is an awesome verdict. Ken and John followed this trial; the LA Times disgustingly ignored it. Nice to see Justice Served in Los Angeles. One can wonder who's on first in our fair city.

[rusureitflies?]

The problem is, is that this type of justice is unusual. Too many crimes, too little justice...for some folk.

[TNCMAXQ]

This was just last October and verdicts are in already? That seems very fast. I suppose "the community" will scream about the culprits being railroaded. In any case, the whole assault was nothing short of sickening.

[hole_n_one]

OK, but now that convictions have been handed down, the "victims" are black...?

If keen were a flower, you'd be in full bloom!.

[NoGrayZone]

Arent they always?

[BossLady]

Have you been keeping up on this story???

Too bad Alton Maddox Jr. did not bother to read about this incident!!!!

[Howlin]

No, I haven't; and if he read it, I doubt he'd "understand" it, if you get my drift!

Were these people girls or boys and girls?

[Michael.SF.]

What does USC have to do with this?

[SoCal Pubbie]

I believe one of the accused had a track scholarship offered by USC.

[Michael.SF.]

Thanks. I had not seen that before. By all means the scholarship should be revoked.

Just for the record, this would not longer make him "one of the accused" but rather he would now officially be "one of the criminals"

But of course the media will not paint it that way, will they?

[doug from upland]

http://www.fresnobee.com/384/v-printerfriendly/story/25404.html

WHEN YOU ARE BLACK AND GUILTY, BRING UP RACISM AND MARTIN LUTHER KING.

---

Parents of accused Long Beach teens speak out01/21/07 07:02:06

The parents of the 10 black youths on trial for allegedly battering three white women on Halloween spoke out for the first time at a community forum and said prosecutors had failed to prove their case.
About 100 people gathered Saturday at the California Recreation Community Center in Long Beach, just days before the defense was to finish its closing arguments.

Some of the parents said their children were good students or athletes with promising futures and had no criminal records. They assailed what they called a rush to judgment.

"They've been presumed guilty," said Allene Seymore, the mother of a 16-year-old female defendant. "This just made me realize how so very, very far we are from fulfilling Dr. Martin Luther King's dream" of equality for all, she said.

The defendants ranged in age from 12 to 17 at the time of the Oct. 31 attack in the posh Bixby Knolls neighborhood. All have pleaded not guilty.

"My kids are innocent," said Cherralle Hargison, the mother of four of the youths on trial. "They're devastated. They can't even go to school, because they're in court every day."

The nine girls and one boy on trial are charged with assault with intent to cause great bodily harm; eight of them face a hate crime enhancement because racial slurs were allegedly said during the attack.

The victims, two 19-year-olds and a 21-year-old, all suffered broken bones.

If convicted, the defendants could be sent to the California Youth Authority until they reach the age of 25.

As in all juvenile trials, a judge will decide guilt or innocence rather than a jury.

[doug from upland]

VIDEO FROM LOCAL TV --- http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_026083656.html

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

The LOS ANGELES TIMES did not even report it for a month.

How good a job did the Press-Telegram do? LB is my home town. I know the neighborhood well, at least the way it was some 30 years ago. Clearly, things have changed.